The Abandoned Empress

I kept ridiculing myself while I was riding back home in a wagon and even when I lay on the bed after taking a shower after arriving home.

I curled up inside the blanket. I was jammed up on the inside because of various complicated thoughts in my mind.

I was sick and tired of the noble faction targeting my life whenever they found an opportunity.

I thought I could live a comfortable life this time, but I couldn’t. I was also upset about Jiun who screwed up my life because she returned from the past just like me.

How long would she torment me before letting go of me? What ill-fated relationship did she have with me to harass me in my second life? If she had joined the pro-emperor faction, I would not have had any problem like this, but she went to the noble faction to make matters worse.

Above all, I was deeply disillusioned with the pro-emperor faction who abandoned me at once when they felt I was useless, who was trying to curry favor with them.

I felt strongly betrayed by Duke Lars and Duke Verita who took care of me well since when I was a child, but deserted me now.

I felt resentful towards my father who didn’t tell me about them in advance…

‘Oh no, I shouldn’t hate my father.’ I shook my head.

The political world is a heartless one. It was all my fault that I was too complacent, carried away with the warmth of the people around me. It was my fault that I believed them so easily.

I chewed my lips. When I was shuddering because of a deepening sense of shame, somebody tapped the blanket. When I removed the blanket hysterically, Luna was staring at me casually.

“Whew, Luna. I don’t feel like playing with you today. ”

I whispered, but Luna snuggled into my arms, crying low, as if she didn’t care about my mood. The warmth through her soft hair warmed up my frozen heart gradually.

Was it because of that? I suddenly felt drowsy. I closed my eyes and fell asleep, tapping Luna gently

It was a long day.

“Gosh, my lady, are you sure you are going, dressed like this?”

“What’s wrong about my dress?”

“Well…”

I turned my mouth up a bit when Lina was nervous, looking at me. I felt bad because of the summons I received this morning.

I was really dumbfounded. Do they want to harrass me more than they already did the other day?

But I couldn’t be the only one suffering. I should definitely get even with them.

As soon as I received the summons, I thought it’s a good opportunity to counterattack them, so I called Mrs. Rosa, the dress designer, immediately. And thanks to her hard efforts, I received the new dress from her, which I was wearing to go to the palace.

“They are going to find fault with your dress…”

“I think so.”

“But how come you are so calm…”

“Stop there. Is the carriage ready? ”

“… Yes, my lady. ”

I cut her off and finally checked her dress. Then I got on the wagon, leaving behind the family knights looking at me with a surprised expression.

Because I left early in the morning, I could enter the conference hall without being noticed by anybody. I took my seat and brushed up on what I had to say at the meeting today.

How much time passed?

Soon they began to come in and take their seats one by one. In no time the protocol officer announced the arrival of the emperor.

“The Sun of the empire, His Majesty, is entering the hall!”

When everyone was seated after showing him due manners, Earl Hamel immediately asked for a say.

“I said it yesterday, so I need to hear Lady Monique’s reply by all means. How long are you going to drag your feet on this matter? Even if you are resisting, your disqualification doesn’t go away.”

“Earl Hamel, watch your language!”

“Did I say anything wrong?”

“Well, I was going to give you the answer right now,” I said, cutting him off, who was trying to refute Duke Verita’s warning. But my calm voice didn’t show any emotional reaction.

When I stood up, everyone’s eyes focused on me.

“I heard well what you said at this meeting yesterday. I appreciate your opinion very much.”

When I looked around, with my mouth turned up a bit, I saw the noble faction staring at me aghast and the pro-emperor faction trying to shun my gaze. It seemed they took notice of my barbed words.

After quietly bowing to the head table where the emperor was seated, I opened my mouth quickly before he said anything.

“So, I requested the emperor to break off his engagement with the Monique family.”

“What did you say? Is that true?”

“Lady Monique, what the heck is this…”

“Breaking off your engagement? How can you say that without consulting with us first…?”

With a bright smile, I looked around at them making a fuss over my announcement. I couldn’t help but smile when I watched the noble faction staring at me blankly and the pro-emperor faction getting confused. I felt like I got some heavy burden off my chest.

“Quiet! Everybody, be quiet!”

Silencing them, Duke Verita said, looking at me, “Lady Monique, can you explain once again? What are you talking about?”

“Well, I just said my position clearly. What more do you want to hear?”

“Oh my… is that really the intention of the Monique family?”

“That’s right. While my father is away, I’m expressing my opinion as the head of my family, so I’m now saying in my capacity as the head of the Monique family, not me as an individual.”

Unlike the pro-emperor faction who were still confused, the noble faction regained composure and seemed to ask for a say immediately.

I raised my voice and warned them before turning to Duke Verita.

“So, I hope you can stop slandering me and my family.”

“Who is slandering you, Lady Monique? Please refrain from…”

“When you say you are breaking off the engagement, it means you are also giving up all your bodnage with the imperial family. So, don’t argue that I should be the empress. When you once again make an argument over this, I will immediately retract my request, even if you continue to blame me. Do you understand?”

“I still don’t get it…”

“And if I retract, I will do my best to prove my qualifications. In other words, I’m going to compete with Lady Jena who is the better empress candidate, either me who has defects as a woman or her who was not recognized by the late emperor.”

As I spoke clearly, the noble faction became quiet in no time.

Looking away from them who were silent, I now turned to the pro-emperor faction.

I said with a bright smile at them, who I once felt as my reliable ally, “Now, please sort out your divided opinion and present your unified position.”

“Lady Monique.”

“Let me tell you one more thing. The Monique family won’t be involved in this matter again. So, don’t expect any cooperation on my end.”

“Lady Monique! What the heck are you talking…”

“Hummm… are you going to make our family turn against you, Earl Whir? Do you think I’m a pushover because I give it away?”

“…No, you know that’s not what I mean.”

When Earl Whir, who was trying to say something, stepped back with a puzzled look, Duke Lars said, swallowing a sigh, “I will respect the intention of the Monique family. So, please stop it, Lady Monique.”

“Sure, I will.” I smiled and took my eyes off the pro-emperor faction.

The moment I slowly turn my head, my eyes meet with the emperor’s navy blue eyes fixed on me. There was reproach, desperateness and some other feelings in his eyes. Only

“Your Majesty, everyone seems to have a lot on their minds, so how about taking a break?”

Only when he heard Duke Verita’s voice suggesting the intermission, he slowly looked away from me. Turning to him slowly, he nodded, “Sure, let’s take a break.”

“The meeting will be adjourned for half an hour.”

I stood up and headed for the door as soon as he announced the recess. As I quicked my pace, I felt many of them turning their eyes at me.

‘Let me count how many are looking at me.’

With a smile I began to count with silence.

‘One, two, three.’

“Lady Monique! What the heck did you do a moment ago?” somebody said angrily from my behind.